Chosen biweekly by Rachel Grabenhofer, Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine editor, for their relevance to personal care, Patent Picks are taken from publicly available sources. This edition features recently issued patents relevant to hair care, styling and growth.

The present invention relates to a composition for promoting hair growth and a method of use thereof. The composition comprises: a) 0.15% w/w to 4.5% w/w, preferably 0.15% to 0.75%, of panthenyl ethyl ether; b) 0.15% w/w to 4.5% w/w, preferably 0.15% to 0.75%, inositol; c) 0.015% w/w to 0.9% w/w, preferably 0.015% to 0.15%, milk protein; and d) 0.03% w/w to 1.8% w/w, preferably 0.03% to 0.3%, of one or more sulfur-rich amino acids. The composition and method are reportedly capable of making hair longer and thicker in a relatively short time without any serious side effects.

The present invention describes aqueous, matte coating compositions comprising a binder component and a polymeric duller component. The duller component consists of particles of one or more multi-stage copolymers or single stage cross-linked (co)polymers, e.g. cross linked t-butyl (meth)acrylate, having an average diameter of 1-20 μm. Preferably, both components are acrylic.

The aqueous compositions are said to provide matte coatings having haptic or feel (soft touch) properties, film and appearance properties, including burnish resistance and low color loss. The compositions may be used to make cosmetics and body treatment compositions including but not limited to skin and hair care products, moisturizing creams, sunscreen and makeup.

The disclosed invention relates to a starch emulsifier product prepared by solubilizing a starch and subsequently derivatizing it, in one embodiment, by reacting the starch with an alkenyl succinic anhydride. Such starch emulsifier products are reportedly useful as emulsifying and/or encapsulating agents, particularly in systems where high load and retention of the active ingredient, low surface oil exposure, and excellent oxidation resistance is desired. Personal care products incorporating said invention may include: antiperspirants, deodorants, soaps, fragrances, and cosmetics; hair care products such as hair sprays, mousses, shampoos and cream rinses; and bath products and gels.

This patent discloses novel compounds that modulate PPAR-type receptors; these are formulated into pharmaceutical compositions suited for administration in human or veterinary medicine (i.e., in dermatology and in the field of cardiovascular diseases, immune diseases and/or diseases linked to the metabolism of lipids; or, alternatively, into cosmetic compositions, in particular in body and hair care, and more particularly for regulating and/or restoring skin lipid metabolism.

This patent describes novel detergent and conditioning compositions comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable aqueous medium: a) at least one anionic surfactant comprising at least one group chosen from sulfate, sulfonate and phosphate; b) at least one carboxylic anionic surfactant other than ingredient a); c) at least one amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant; d) at least one alkylpolyglycoside nonionic surfactant; e) at least one cationic polymer with a cationic charge density of greater than or equal to 4 meq/g; and f) at least one beneficial agent other than ingredient e), wherein the sulfate, sulfonate or phosphate anionic surfactant/amphoteric surfactant weight ratio is in a range of 0.1 to 2. Also disclosed are uses of said composition for cleansing and caring for the hair or skin.

Methods of making emulsions are described in this patent, which include: adding an emulsifying agent comprising glucoside alkyl urethanes of formula:
A(O—CO—NH—R)s
wherein A represents a glucosyl unit having a dextrose equivalent (DE) ranging from 1 to 47; and wherein R represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group containing from 3 to 22 carbon atoms; and s is the degree of substitution (DS) ranging from approximately 0.01 to 2.0, to an aqueous-based liquid and a dispersed product. This is followed by mixing to create a stable dispersion.

The glucoside alkyl urethanes present properties of thermal and chemical stability with biodegradability and are free from phosphor/phosphates. The glucoside alkyl urethanes are suitable as surfactants for use in household and industrial applications, e.g., as detergents, emulsifiers, emulsion stabilizers, foaming agents, foam stabilizers, dispersants and wetting agents. In addition, the surface active agents are also suitable for use as detergents, emulsifiers, emulsion stabilizers, liposome stabilizers, foaming agents, foam stabilizers and/or wetting agents in various household and industrial applications, such as for example in detergents for laundry washing, detergents for dish washing, industrial detergents, emulsifiers in cosmetics, emulsifiers and stabilizers in inks, in paintings and in coating compositions, and foaming agents and/or foam stabilizers in shampoos.

The present invention describes a hypoallergenic cleansing, cosmetic, conditioning or dermatological composition for treating skin or hair that contains serum albumin in an amount effective to achieve cleansing, conditioning, wound debrisment or other cosmetic benefit. The compositions may be delivered to hair or skin via soap, shampoo, cream, oil, lotion, gel, gel-based ointment and the like.

The serum albumin compositions are preferably prepared using human serum albumin produced by recombinant means, and such compositions are useful in that they allow the albumin to be absorbed in the surface of skin or hair so as to replenish the structure of these tissues when utilized. The disclosed compositions can be used safely and effectively with reduced likelihood of allergic reactions.

The present invention is directed to bimodal polymer compositions and personal care fixatives containing bimodal polymer compositions. This patent describes a bimodal polymer composition having a first polymer with anionic character and a second polymer with cationic character, wherein the polymers form an interpenetrating polymer network. In one embodiment, the present invention includes personal care fixatives (e.g., health care, hygiene or cosmetic compositions) containing the bimodal polymer composition.

The present invention describes a method for treating hair, including the application of two compositions in a foam form to the hair that are mixed on the hair. The first composition may include an oxidative dye. The second composition may include a oxidizing component such as hydrogen peroxide. An applicator for applying the compositions to the hair may take the form of a brush having a cavity thereon through which the foam compositions are delivered to the hair. A kit including an aerosol container housing the oxidative dye, an aerosol container housing the oxidizing component, and a brush applicator may also be provided.

The present patent discloses mixtures of sulfide dyes and dyeing compositions comprising mixtures of sulfide dyes. The mixtures are useful for the dyeing of organic materials such as keratin fibers, preferably human hair. The technical challenge is to provide dyes that are distinguished by deep dyeing and having good fastness properties with respect to washing, light, shampooing and rubbing.